<p>I know that it is not something unusual for people to change university but it scares me so much and it will be the hardest thing that I have ever done in my life. Currently I am studying in a very elite and good university in Europe, but I decided that I want to do a completely different major (art related) that is not offered here so I have to apply to another university.
Given that I have been extremely miserable here for the past one year, that I pay tons of money for studying something that I dont like, and that there is actually something that inspires me much more it seems like the only right decision to leave the university. However, I am so scared about starting everything from scratch again after I have struggled so much here already. First of all, I see it as a failiure quitting a very very good university and I have never thought that this could happen to me. Second, I am scared of what other people are going to think about it and actually I plan not to tell them at all until the end of semester. Third, if I leave, there are 2 possibilities either I am going to apply and get accepted this year to some crappy university, or stay 1 year at home, make a good portfolio and then try to get into a better place. Both options are not perfect and I know that Ill encounter many difficulties which will make me at some point doubt my decision and even regret it because I always think too much and doubt everything. ;)
So, what scares me most is leaving an elite university for an insecure (but certainly happier) future, leaving 1 year of my life behind and making such a drastic change without knowing at all how things will work out. Its a great risk.
Has someone encountered something similar? Probably leaving a high ranked university for a not that high ranked one, just to make yourself happy? Or leaving an university because you suddenly realized that you want to study art and not math? How do you deal with the feeling that you just ditch the past one year from your life and start everything again?</p>
<p>Noooooo! Don’t let my thread die :((</p>
<p>I’m just speaking from life experience, but IMO it is more important to follow your passion than to be stuck doing something you really don’t like. With that said, everything else usually falls into place. Passion for something will carry you so much further. Look at the past year as a learning experience, you might not have known that math is really what you don’t want. All is not lost, you may be able to transfer credits as electives, etc. It is always scary when one changes and moves in another direction, but it is well worth it when you are going to do something that make you happy. I say go for it and don’t look back. It is always the right thing when you follow your inner wisdom and intuition.</p>
<p>A parent here. This is definitely the time in your life to make changes - it is the time when you will find it least difficult to start new. As a parent, I would never want my S or D to be miserable at college and you have been there for a year now, with no improvement in your feeling about it. How do your parents feel? A year in your life is a short time right now. You don’t have to explain yourself to anyone - your explanation is fine anyway. Most adults who went to college changed their majors at least once. I would think carefully about what you want to do for next year. As a parent I would be worried about my S losing steam a little and hanging out with old high school friends who didn’t go to college, who are leading a different life - so having a plan might help you and your parents with this decision. I Could you take some local college courses in art (or a local art school) this summer to help solidify your desire to do this? Are there transfer options for 2nd semester next year? You might want to call some schools? Is your state school a possibility? Just some random thoughts. Good luck with your decision - you ARE entitled to change your mind!</p>
<p>Your current situation is not working for you, so I believe that it is smart to try something else. However, some of the people responding do not seem to realize that the European system is not the same as the American system. You may need to evaluate some of the advice based on that. In America, going to an elite university that does not work for you is a bad decision.</p>
<p>I’m in the opposite position of you. I want to leave my art school, and transfer to a well known regular university/college that offers more majors beyond just design/studio art.</p>
<p>From my experience, is that the minute you enter a specific school for certain majors, such as art school where all the majors offered are art and design, you lock yourself into a position where you can you only receive an education in art and design. What happens when you realize that the art/design isn’t what you want your undergraduate education? You’re stuck at a school, just like you are now, that doesn’t offer more varied majors.</p>
<p>My opinion is to go to a well rounded university that not only offers art & design majors, but also have majors in other non-art majors. Schools like WUSTL, Carnegie Mellon, USC, come to mind. I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t have trouble entering from your European College into these.</p>
<p>Thanks to all for the replies.
The thing is that honestly, I simply do not know what I want to study. I would easily accept the idea of transfering if only I knew what I wanted to do with my life.
I used to go to art lessons for more than 2 years before coming to Uni and I loved it, may be up to now it has been the thing that I have been most passionate about. However, I decided that I want to go to a more well-rounded university, just like liek0806 to study something more academical, without really knowing what would it be.
It is a strange feeling, but because I have excelled in academia, I learn quickly and I like studying (I find almost anything interesting) it’s difficult for me to leave everything and go to a graphic design school.
Here I started as a Computer Science major, I did very well in it but I just realized that I don’t want to become a programmer at all. It would be the end of the world for me if I end up staying in front of the computer all day coding. And I don’t care about the money any more, I just want to find something that I will be happy with.
I was then thinking of applied math because it gives a wider range of opportunities after graduation, and because I have been taking math courses.
Actually before coming here I was split between Computer Sciences and Integrated Social Sciences.You see, I am a pretty messed up person because I am good at math and CS, but I enjoy social sciences and art much more. I am scared of studying social sciences because I don’t like speaking before public, and I am coming from a pretty much messed up educational system where they don’t train these skills in people. May be with practice I will overcome my shyness, but I am not sure because in high school I never had to confront it.</p>
<p>So… long story short, I don’t really know what I want to study and I change my mind 3 times per day about it but I have to decide SOON. The university that I am now in is a very ambitious american style research university and I like it a lot. I actually chose it because unlike other European Unis here I can change my major and choose courses outside my major. But it also has lots of negative sides - since we are graduating in 3 years we are taking up to 10 courses per semester. The second year math and CS courses are a killer, and if I end up staying here studying math, I won’t have a life, I will not sleep and I will probably die out from the stress. Moreover, I will be paying lots of money for it. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind working a lot or paying for a good education, but if I do such big sacrifices I want to be absolutely sure that it’s worth it and that I don’t hate what I am studying. If I end up staying here I’ll also seriously consider changing my major to social sciences. </p>
<p>I definately have to decide this summer what to do because in European universities you apply for a certain program and cannot change it. Even in mine it would be impossible after this semester (since the program is only 3 years).
I do not trust myself anymore because I change my mind all the time and I obviously made some wrong decisions already. 
I know that you cannot tell me what to study, but I have noone impartial to talk to right now.
What would you do or what would you advice your children if they totally didn’t know what to study but had to decide almost immediately? Should I stay here ( I have only 2 years to graduate and I might do smth different afterwards) or should I risk it and transfer somewhere, where at least I’ll have a more relaxed life and won’t end up stuck with loans?</p>
<p>One year of your life might may seem like a lot but in the bigger picture that is life, a year is no time at all. Also you have not wasted it; you have been learning all the time both academically and spiritually. You will no doubt succeed if you stayed where you are but you have the chance of succeeding and being happy if you move. Just keep your goal in site and try not to worry what others think of your decision. It is your life and your decision.</p>
<p>I would also recommend you post this in the parents forum; you may receive more replies.</p>
<p>It sounds like in general the best schools for you would be a liberal art college.</p>
<p>You should check out Amherst College, which is pretty prestigious, and they have no core requirements of classes that you need to take. Essentially you just take the classes you want to take in any department, and you learn at your own free will. Classes will be smaller, so you actually get personal attention, and that naturally will force you to interact and speak with your classmates and professors. </p>
<p>I’m not sure how familiar you are with liberal art colleges, but it sounds like they would be a best match for you. There are some social sciences like Economics that are very marketable in terms of finding a job after you graduate, ie Claremont McKenna would be a strong school for this. They also have joint programs with Harvey Mudd(a science/engineering liberal arts colleges) where you can double major or do a dual major. </p>
<p>Art school is definitely the way to go, you will get stuck once again, and your education will be as technical as a computer science major will be.</p>
<p>Yes, I know that it would have been better if I was in a LAC, in fact I applied to lots of US colleges last year but did not get accepted anywhere with fin aid. It has recently become very tough for intl students requiring fin aid and I don’t know if I’ll get in if I apply again. What’s more, this year it is too late already to apply to US, I can apply after my second year here, but then again it would be only one year before graduation, so I am not sure if it would be worth it.
My university is the closest to US system that you can get in Europe, that’s why I came here. Theoretically, I could do a double major here as well, but it is practically impossible. I don’t know, I’ll probably try to figure out what would be the best option if I stay here and will take up some drawing and graphic design during the summer.
liek0806, I think I know how you feel about graphic design being too specialized, but in the end every job is specialized and if you don’t find anything particular that you like more or at least as much as graphic design, it won’t make you much happier that you are in a well-rounded school.</p>
<p>Surfin_bird: I notice you think you want to go into art, but then say you’re not really sure. I think you haven’t thought through a plan well enough. There are two parts to what you need to do. The first part is your plan to leave your current situation. It sounds like you are doing that well. Don’t tell people until you have to do so. Everybody will give you his/her opinion. You need to think this through on your own.</p>
<p>But you need to make a better plan for the second part which is what you will do after you leave university, if that’s what you decide to do. Maybe there are ways to continue what you are doing but make it more artistic: Carnegie Mellon has a celebrated program in human interaction/Computer Science that sounds like it’s part art part CS and people get hired out of it (Disney for example) with great interest. Or maybe you should go to art school of a more traditional sort. </p>
<p>In the US, a lot of people will tell you that you should pursue your passion. That’s what our society in some ways is all about – i.e. people making themselves. But as someone pointed out European society is different and more particular the European education system is more rigid. </p>
<p>I’d say follow your passion, but start with a good plan. And yes, a plan can change a lot. But if you think through the plan it’ll make you conscious of your decisions. This is a good thing.</p>
<p>BedHead, you are right, I am not really sure and what I have to do is to decide what’s the best strategy given that I obviously cannot take a decision right now…</p>
<p>Following one’s passion is something that is celebrated in every society. In Europe, however, students have to decide earlier what that passion is, because the educational system is more rigid, and people more rarely change their career paths. People usually don’t get to explore different subjects in college and often end up doing something that is not right for them.
In my home country for instance, you have to know by 11th grade (that is your junior high school year) what you want to do, because you have to start preparing for the exams which are specific for your chosen field. And in such cases parents play a big role.
But no matter where you are, those circumstances shouldn’t stop you from pursuing your passion because you always can change university and start over.</p>
<p>SB: Don’t beat yourself up. Some people move clearly in the direction of their passion. And they have the skills that take them far in that direction. In the most celebrated cases, these people also end up making a living at it or doing very well. In other cases, people follow their passions and do very, very well at mastering their passion but not at earning money – I saw a case recently written about of a very accomplished musician who couldn’t ever really make a living at his craft and decided to completely alter his path.</p>
<p>Of course, of these two types, we all would like to be in the first category. But I am envious of both in the sense that they embrace their passion and really live it.</p>
<p>There are other people who spend a long time finding their foci or passion. And then there are others who either figure out that they don’t really have one or that their passions aren’t related to a specific activity that is directly or indirectly related to the work world. Finally, there are people who realize that their passion involves quite simply change – i.e. they don’t like to do the same thing or to have set careers. These people tend to be entrepreneurial; they have to be because they have to re-invent themselves.</p>
<p>A key, useful construct for me is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs which states the obvious point that people need to survive first – i.e. find a means of eating, being healthy, etc. That being accomplished, they can then thrive, individuate themselves, reach for their passions, express most deeply who it is that they are. Until at least basic survival is secured, individuation is a largely unaffordable luxury, though some are so completely driven by their passions that they’ll make what defines survival a very low bar.</p>
<p>Middle class people, I find, often struggle with the distinctions I am raising. They haven’t really had to fight to survive because they are reasonably well taken care of growing up, so some of them focus on activities or thoughts related to individuation and reaching their wildest dreams. [Often people less well off or people who are more practically minded or who don’t feel their passions as acutely don’t understand the focus on things which can, to others, look like luxuries.] But later these middle class people have to take over the job of their own survival when they go to college and thereafter. For some, they focus on thriving because that’s the only thing they’ve had to do beforehand. But the reality confronts some very brutally (and others are aware of it from early on) that they will have to see to their own survival – and thriving.</p>
<p>The luckiest of us are those who find what it is that helps them survive and thrive all at once. A case in point would be someone like Steven Spielberg. He is a natural at what he does. He struggled. But he found film and was very successful at it ultimately after struggling at first. I almost hesitate to use an example like that because it is so extreme in terms of what he was able to accomplish and earn (whatever one thinks of his films).</p>
<p>The media doesn’t focus nearly as much attention on those who really pursue what they want and yet get nowhere or have to switch out of something that is their passion. It’s a much more romantic story to talk about the person who overcame all struggles and stuck to pursuing their dreams. The example I cited above – the piano player (or maybe it was conductor) who achieved significant laurels in his field but could never really put together a living because he didn’t achieve the necessary popular status – is the kind of thing that happens a lot, though.</p>
<p>You have to realistically ask yourself: is pursuing art so important to me that I would risk being like that piano player? If so, by all means go for it. If you have to ask the question, it may mean the answer is no. I have poor artist friends who never really seemed to have a choice in their life about what they would do; they never would have thought twice about whether or not they were on the right path.</p>
<p>Myself, I am one of those whose passions lies in change and discovery. My father assumed I’d be a doctor. Putting aside the question of whether I’d have the brains to do so (one would assume I would looking at my academic capabilities), I certainly wouldn’t have had the passion to do so.</p>
<p>Until I grew to accept this in myself I had to orient myself by trying things and figuring out I didn’t like them. I’ve found myself now in a profession that is respectable and reasonable in terms of the life it affords me, but it is not my passion. At this point, though, I know I can have as stable a career in what I do as one might expect. For me, this is really important at this point in my life.</p>
<p>For someone at your stage, if you can make a plan to follow your passion and fearlessly dive into making it happen, I would say go for it. But if what is motivating you is more that you don’t like what you are doing than that your art positivistically drawn to art in particular, I’d reflect on that for awhile. And my plan would take into consideration very clearly the outcomes of that reflection.</p>
<p>Life is short. Don’t put off embracing your passions because if one build’s one’s life solely around surviving and money when one has the possibility of working to thrive and individuate one lives an empty life. But life is long too. You need to take the long view sometimes as you build yourself, step-by-step, into what you dream of becoming.</p>